Your Computer is Bored

Your CPU can execute millions, perhaps billions of instructions per second, but mostly what it does is wait. Even as you are using it, mostly it is waiting. A fast disk may spin at 7200 rpm, but that means on an average you have to wait 1/240th of a second for it to turn to where your data is. In that time the CPU could execute upwards of 4000 instructions, but it may have to wait. A typist may type 60 wpm, but that means 1/6th of a second between keystrokes, during which the CPU could execute over 160,000 instructions. If you lived your life at the frantic pace of a CPU, you would go on vacation between mouse clicks.

So What?

Those CPU cycles your computer spends twiddling its thumbs in the idle loop can be used for something constructive, even noble. What would you say if I told you your computer could help find a treatment for cancer, HIV, or other diseases, using those CPU cycles that are literally thrown away?

What’s The Catch?

There is no catch. A non-profit project called Find-A-Drug is conducting molecular research aimed at finding simple, effective treatments for cancer, HIV, and other diseases. To participate, all you have to do is download a program that runs at very low priority, and gives your CPU something to do with its spare time. Since it runs at such low priority, it does not interfere with your use of the computer in any way. Only your computer will know the difference.

There is no cost and no risk associated with participation in Find-A-Drug. No personal data is required. All communications between your PC and the Find-A-Drug servers are encrypted for your privacy and to guarantee data integrity. An occasional Internet connection is required only for downloading molecule descriptions and for uploading finished results.

What is the point?

You are probably aware that it takes many years to discover a new drug. Find-A-Drug is an attempt to speed up the front end of the process through the use of computer technology. Proteins associated with a disease are analyzed for receptor sites. A molecule that “fits” the receptor site could block the action of the protein, and potentially interfere with the progress of the disease. But which molecule?

There exist catalogs of trillions of molecules that might be possible candidates for a medicine, but it is not easy to tell which might fit the protein’s receptor site. A program called THINK bends mathematical molecules this way and that, trying to see if they will fit the site. It tries all possible arrangements of every molecule, an incredibly stupefying task. I estimate one computer could do the entire catalog of molecules in less than ten thousand years. But no one computer has to do the job alone. Already, thousands of computers are running Find-A-Drug. Molecules are downloaded 10,000 at a time, and results are uploaded, up to 100 million molecules a day so far. But we need your help.

Do I get paid?

No. Find-A-Drug is a not-for profit project operated by Treweyen Associates, the authors of the THINK software. Any profits arising out of Find-A-Drug will be funneled into further research through a charity. What people get out of Find-A-Drug is the satisfaction of knowing that their computer is helping to search for a drug to treat cancer, HIV or other diseases.

What are the projects?

Cancer and HIV are two of the projects currently active. From time to time other projects are available. Recent projects have included Malaria, TB, MS, and anti-Bioterrorism, although those projects are not currently active at this time. Users can pick and choose which projects they wish their computer to work on, through an easy-to-use check box menu.

Do I have to be involved?

Once the software is installed, it can be entirely ignored, as it will not interfere with the operation of your computer in any way. If you wish, you can monitor the progress your computer is making on the various projects. If you are interested, you may participate in a user forum, accessible on the Internet. It is an important source for answers to any questions you may have about THINK or Find-A-Drug. If you wish, you may join a team. Teams engage in good-natured competition for the most molecules processed, most “hits”, etc.

Do I have to have broadband or DSL?

It is not necessary to have broadband or DSL in order to participate. Access to the Internet is only required occasionally to download molecules and to upload results. Find-A-Drug can be configured to access the Internet on a scheduled basis, or only when you are online. If you do have broadband or DSL, Find-A-Drug can be configured to access the Internet whenever it needs to. If you wish to manually initiate uploads and downloads, you can do so.


Almost any PC running Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/2003/XP can participate.
A Linux client is available.

Information and downloads: www.find-a-drug.org

I would like to thank Trader Jimm for the use of this